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SECOND DAY
__________
MORNING SESSION
__________
House Chamber, Olympia, Tuesday, January 10, 1995
The House was called to order at 9:55 a.m. by the Speaker.
Reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was ordered to stand approved.
There being no objection, the House advanced to the fourth order of business.
INTRODUCTIONS AND FIRST READING
HB 1056 by Representatives Schoesler, Chandler, Sheahan, Mulliken, Sheldon, Delvin, Foreman and Mastin
AN ACT Relating to insect control; creating a new section; making appropriations; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Ecology.
HB 1057 by Representatives Schoesler, Morris, B. Thomas, Delvin, Carlson, Hankins, Dyer, Sheldon, Casada, Chandler, L. Thomas, Fuhrman, Mulliken, Lisk, Cooke, Sheahan and Mastin
AN ACT Relating to changing the tax rates for canola; amending RCW 82.04.260; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Ecology.
HB 1058 by Representatives Horn and Sheldon; by request of Liquor Control Board
AN ACT Relating to the repeal of liquor vendors' appeals as authorized by RCW 41.06.150; amending RCW 41.06.070; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
HB 1059 by Representatives Lisk and Sheldon; by request of Liquor Control Board
AN ACT Relating to improvements to the enforcement provisions of the Washington state liquor act; amending RCW 66.12.120; adding a new section to chapter 66.44 RCW; repealing 1990 c 125 s 3 (uncodified); and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
HB 1060 by Representatives Lisk and Sheldon; by request of Liquor Control Board
AN ACT Relating to improvements to the licensing sections of the Washington state liquor act; and amending RCW 66.24.010, 66.24.025, 66.24.210, 66.24.290, 66.24.300, 66.24.320, 66.24.330, and 66.24.490.
Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
HB 1061 by Representatives Buck, Cairnes, Benton, Goldsmith, Thompson, Hatfield, D. Schmidt, Pennington, McMorris, Smith, Sheahan, Pelesky, McMahan, Tokuda, Schoesler, Boldt, Foreman and Kremen
AN ACT Relating to licenses; amending RCW 77.32.101; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
HB 1062 by Representatives Ballasiotes, Koster, Cooke, Schoesler, Morris, Boldt, Benton, Foreman, Sheldon, Kremen, Mastin, Lisk, Chandler and Carlson
AN ACT Relating to using juvenile serious violent offenses as criminal history for purposes of adult sentencing; and reenacting and amending RCW 9.94A.360.
Referred to Committee on Corrections.
HB 1063 by Representatives Padden and Mastin; by request of Law Revision Commission
AN ACT Relating to technical corrections; correcting multiple amendments; deleting obsolete provisions; reenacting and amending RCW 29.04.160, 49.60.030, 70.94.053, 70.94.055, and 75.30.120; reenacting RCW 50.62.030; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 43.19.640, 43.19.645, 43.19.650, 43.19.655, 43.19.660, 43.19.665, and 70.94.222.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
HB 1064 by Representatives Padden and Appelwick; by request of Law Revision Commission
AN ACT Relating to correcting unconstitutional provisions relating to resident employees on public works; amending RCW 35A.40.200; and repealing RCW 39.16.005, 39.16.020, 39.16.030, and 39.16.040.
Referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
HB 1065 by Representatives Chandler, Lisk, Mastin, Schoesler, McMorris, Robertson, Chappell, Delvin, Honeyford, Koster, Clements, Boldt, Foreman and Kremen
AN ACT Relating to safety standards for agriculture; amending RCW 49.17.050; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Ecology.
HB 1066 by Representatives Lisk, Dyer, R. Fisher, Cairnes, Grant, Chandler, Sheldon, Scott and Ballasiotes
AN ACT Relating to agreements regarding smoking in the workplace; adding a new section to chapter 49.17 RCW; and declaring an emergency.
Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
HB 1067 by Representatives Schoesler, Grant, Hankins, Delvin, Mastin and Sheldon
AN ACT Relating to property tax reform; amending RCW 84.33.035 and 84.33.170; and creating a new section.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
HJM 4002 by Representatives Buck, Goldsmith, Sherstad, D. Schmidt, Thompson, Sheahan, McMorris, Mulliken, McMahan, Hargrove, Pelesky, Schoesler, Benton, Sheldon and Johnson
Petitioning Congress for a balanced budget.
Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
HJM 4003 by Representatives Chandler, Lisk, Kremen, Mulliken, Mastin, Honeyford, Chappell, Clements, Schoesler, Robertson, Delvin, Boldt, Foreman and Johnson
Petitioning Congress to amend the food, drug, and cosmetic act to establish a negligible risk standard for pesticide residue in processed foods.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Ecology.
HJM 4004 by Representatives Chandler, Lisk, Schoesler, Mulliken, Robertson, Honeyford, Mastin, Clements, Chappell, Delvin, McMorris, Koster, Boldt and Foreman
Petitioning Congress to introduce legislation on pesticide use for minor crops.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Ecology.
MOTION
On motion of Representative Foreman, the bills and memorials listed on today's introduction sheet under the fourth order of business were referred to the committees so designated.
The Speaker declared the House to be at ease.
The Speaker called the House to order.
The Clerk called the roll.
There being no objection, the House reverted to the third order of business.
MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE
January 9, 1995
Mr. Speaker:
The Senate has adopted:
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4401,
and the same is herewith transmitted.
Marty Brown, Secretary
January 10, 1995
Mr. Speaker:
The President has signed:
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8401,
and the same is herewith transmitted.
Marty Brown, Secretary
SIGNED BY THE SPEAKER
The Speaker announced he was signing:
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4401,
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8401,
The Sergeant at Arms announced the arrival of the Senate at the bar of the House.
The Speaker instructed the Sergeants at Arms of the House and Senate to escort the President of the Senate, Joel Pritchard; President Pro Tempore, Lorraine Wojahn; Vice President Pro Tempore, Rosa Franklin; Majority Leader, Marc Gaspard; Minority Leader, Dan McDonald to seats on the rostrum.
Mr. Speaker: It is my pleasure at this time to turn the gavel and this Joint Session of the Legislature over to Lieutenant Governor Pritchard.
President: The Joint Session will be in order. The Clerk of the House will call the roll of members of the House.
The Clerk of the Senate will call the roll of members of the Senate.
Mr. President: The purpose of this Joint Session is to receive a message from his excellency, Governor Mike Lowry.
The President appointed Representatives Brumsickle and Mason; and Senators Sheldon and West to advise his excellency, Governor Mike Lowry and Mrs. Lowry, that the Joint Session has assembled and to escort him from his chambers to the bar of the House of Representatives.
The President appointed Representatives Sheahan, Hickel, Lambert, Costa, Cody and Senators Smith, A. Anderson, Roach and Johnson to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the State Reception Room to the House Chamber.
The President appointed Representatives Fuhrman, Cooke, Dickerson and Senators Fraser, Franklin, Morton, and Hochstatter to escort the Elected Officials from the State Reception Room to the House Chambers.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the arrival of the Justices of the Supreme Court.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Justices of the Supreme Court to the front of the House chamber.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the arrival of the Elected Officials.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Elected Officials to the front of the House chamber.
The President recognizes Governor Rosellini and Mrs. Rosellini.
The President introduced the foreign dignitaries with the Consular Corps of the State of Washington. Mr. Masaki Saito, Consul General from Japan and Dean of the Consular Corp of Washington State; Mr. Haisson Lee, Consul General from South Korea and Vice-Dean of the Consular Corps, and Mrs. Lee; Mr. Stephen Turner, Consul General from Great Britain; Mr. Bernard Gagosz, Consul General from Canada, and Mrs. Gagosz; Mr. Andreas Prothmann, Consul from Germany, and Mrs. Prothmann; Vicente Montemayor, Consul from Mexico, and Mrs. Montemayor; Mr. Georgi Vlaskin, Consul from Russia; Mr. H. T. Chen, Director General of Taiwan, and Mrs. Chen.
The President introduced the Blaine High School choir directed by Andy Harmening, they performed the National Anthem and a selection entitled "Sweet Freedom" by Mac Huff.
The Sergeant at Arms announced the arrival of his excellency, Governor Mike Lowry.
The President introduced Mrs. Lowry, and Governor Lowry's Mother.
The President instructed the special committee to escort the Governor to his place on the rostrum.
The Speaker of the House introduced the Governor of the State of Washington.
It is a pleasure and honor to join with the President of the Senate, Joel Pritchard in introducing the Governor of the State of Washington. Governor Mike Lowry has served our great state with distinction. He continues to serve the people of Washington with uncommon dedication and commitment. Through out a career that has seen him work right here in the Legislative Committee process.
Served the people of King County on their County Council. Represent our State and the U. S. Congress and now providing leadership for all Washingtonians. As our Governor, Mike Lowry has remained a true, honest and steadfast servant of the people. In politics and government those of us in Public Service are judged both by our philosophies and our personal qualities. Well, we may not always share the same philosophy, it is our personal qualities that enables us to work together for the betterment of our state. From personal experience, I can ensure you that Mike Lowry is a man of honor. A man who is true to his beliefs and absolutely committed to what he believes to be the best interest of all citizens. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the great state of Washington, Mike Lowry.
GOVERNOR MIKE LOWRY
Jan. 10, 1995
Thank you Mr.Speaker, Mr. President, distinguished members of the Supreme Court, Governor Rosellini distinguished state elected officials, members of the legislature and citizens of the great State of Washington.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your governor.
First, I know I speak for every person in the state in extending our condolences to the families and friends of the four Seattle firefighters who this week gave their lives in service. Our hearts and prayers go out to them.
I would like to begin by acknowledging the members of the Consular Corps of Washington, who are here today to representing many of the nations with which our state maintains bonds of friendship and of trade.
Your efforts help us create and expand markets in the rest of the world. To supply those markets, our people get up every morning and go to work to build the best airplanes, grow the best wheat and apples, design the best computer software, and develop a cure for cancer.
One in five jobs in Washington depends on trade. Trade sustains our economy and that economy in the past two years has put more Washingtonians to work than ever before. We welcome you and we value your friendship.
The history of Washington state is one of partnership, of people coming together to work for the progress of all the people of the state. It is a history of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, rising above short-term politics for the good of the state and more importantly for our children and grandchildren.
This ability to work together, to form partnerships for the common good, is our “Northwest Ethic.” As Governor, I see examples of that ethic at work every day.
It is that kind of Ethic we̓ve seen working in Hoquiam. When the Grays Harbor Paper Company closed, local officials and a private citizen, Bill Quigg, put together a team of business, labor, state and federal representatives with the citizens of Grays Harbor County got that pulp mill running again and saved 300 jobs. Bill Quigg could not be here today, but Hoquiam Mayor Phyllis Shrauger is. Please join me in congratulating Bill Quigg, Mayor Shrauger and their whole team for their leadership.
We saw another example of our Northwest Ethic at work in Central Washington last summer, when public employees and private citizens joined together in a massive effort to control the nation̓s largest forest fire. In less than 12 hours, our emergency response plan delivered to the scene more than 60 firefighting units and the end result was no loss of life and minimum loss of structures.
With us today is Ray Dobbs, of KOZI Radio on the shores of Lake Chelan. His station kept broadcasting the fire news 24 hours a day, providing critical information to the public. Also with us is Ed Small, Director of Emergency Services, and Richard Small, of Fire Protection Services. They represent the many fine state and other public employees who with Lands Commissioner Jennifer Belcher, Speaker Clyde Ballard, Senator George Sellar and Representative Dale Foreman worked night and day coordinating the massive response. We applaud you and all the people who worked with you.
This Northwest Ethic has made this a great state in which to live and raise a family. I am here to talk to you about continuing that Northwest Ethic of partnership for the good of the State of Washington.
I̓d like you all to consider just how far that partnership has brought us in the past two years.
In two years:
We cut unemployment from 7.8% to 6.1%. A 23% reduction.
We cut growth in state staffing levels to less than zero, when for the past decade they had grown by an average of 5,000 positions every biennium.
We cut the sky-rocketing costs of health care. Two years ago state employee premiums were increasing faster than 11% a year. This year we changed that 11% increase to a 6% decrease for a saving millions of dollars.
These are only a few examples and we still have much to do but we are making excellent progress.
Government Efficiency
One message we̓ve all heard loud and clear is that the voters want a smaller state government — one that operates efficiently and concentrates on top priorities. I agree and see this as one of our primary responsibilities.
The new budget I submitted to you last month takes additional steps to get government out of areas where it doesn̓t need to be, while focusing on such key priorities as private sector jobs, public safety, education and protection of our Natural Resources.
It also holds the number of state employees to less than existed when I took office in 1993 — a dramatic reversal of the trend established over the past decade.
Reducing state employment to its lowest level in years will require courage. We sometimes have to disagree with our friends. I know many of my friends certainly disagree with me on this subject. Nevertheless, the cutbacks must go forward. We will have a smaller government. We will have a better government.
The most important reason we are able to have a smaller, better government is the dedication of hard-working, skilled state employees. My admiration for them grows daily. I admire them for what they do and how well they do it — and without receiving a cost-of-living adjustment in their pay for the past two years. On behalf of everyone in this chamber, I want to say to the State Employees in this state, thank you for a job well done.
Regulatory Reform
Smaller and better government means more efficient and less intrusive regulations. This week, I sent to you legislation that among other things, directs state agencies to focus on helping businesses comply with necessary rules, rather than penalizing them for minor infractions.
And I have requested additional funding to help local governments better coordinate growth management planning with existing environmental laws. These recommendations come from 16 months of hard work by the Regulatory Reform Task Force. This Task Force comprised of State Legislators and Representatives from business, labor, agriculture, conservation groups, State Agencies and Local Governments, has produced significant regulatory reform. Working together has again brought meaningful progress. I congratulate and thank them.
Reducing duplication regulations without removing those that protect the environment and public health and safety will help make our state a better place to live, raise a family, and hold a good paying job.
Good paying jobs are the top priority of the Lowry Administration. If everyone in the state had a family-wage job, 95% of the problems we deal with would be resolved.
Since this time two years ago, our economy has created 70,000 net new jobs.
Despite a loss of 20,000 jobs in the Aerospace Industry and job losses in our timber and fishing communities, we nevertheless have 70,000 more people employed now than we did in 1992. That net growth in jobs is 10 times greater than the last time there were comparable Boeing cutbacks. Ten times greater.
But we cannot rest now. Investment incentives, regulatory reform, quality education, a quality environment safe communities are all important for a strong Washington economy.
I am offering for your approval a Manufacturing Tax Incentive that would create as many as 45,000 high-wage jobs in our state over the next four years, according to a report from the Association of Washington Business.
I am also putting before you a program to provide tax credits to companies that hire and train people now on Welfare. Over the next two years this measure would put 5,000 people to work at wages adequate to support their families and remove them permanently from the Welfare rolls. That's a good tax investment for the future that will pay for itself many times over.
It's easy to blame people on Welfare--or new immigrants--or anyone else having trouble securing a stable place in our society, where more and more good paying jobs are connected with getting a good--often technical--education. But the facts are that most people who have to ask the government for help are in their mid-40s and have recently lost their jobs. Many others are recently divorced single women with children. Mocking them, denying them aid, keeping their children from receiving medical care or going to school--does neither help them, nor does it help society. But providing them the tools to get a good job will help us all.
Public Education
Nothing the state does is more important for quality jobs and our society than education.
No state government investment is more important, and nearly one half of the General Fund Budget for the next two years will go to pay for schooling our youngsters.
For 20 years, young students have been staying after school for Aki Kurose̓s science club at Laurelhurst Elementary, where she teaches first grade. The 40-some youngsters in the club discuss science with University of Washington Physicists, Chemists, Zoologists and other Scientists. With Astronomers, they watched the meteor showers that recently stretched across our skies. Some former club members have now chosen careers in science.
In 1990, Ms. Kurose received the Presidential Award for excellence in teaching science and math for President George Bush. She is here today. Thank you, Aki; and will you please stand so we can thank you and the thousands of other educators in this state who daily make a difference in the lives of many, many children.
Because of a burgeoning population and the increasing educational demands of the job market, we expect a considerable rise in the number of students wanting to enter our excellent Higher Education system. Making sure that they have the chance for quality education is critically important to our top priority of family-wage jobs.
The Higher Education Tax Incentive that I am proposing would increase funding for student Financial Aid by nearly 50 percent. This will protect middle-income and lower-income families from being excluded from Higher-Education.
Altogether, I am asking you to approve measures that would increase the financial aid eligibility limits on family income that now, much too low $17,000 a year to as much, in some cases, as $55,000 a year.
We cannot afford to lose any of our leaders of tomorrow because they could not pay the cost of their education today.
Health Care
One thing we have done as a state that is also making a big difference in the lives of many children — and adults as well — is the adoption in 1993 of the Historic Washington Health Services Act.
In its first two years of existence, that new law will make 138,000 children from lower-income families eligible to receive health coverage — children who might otherwise be denied adequate care. And in our state, no one can be denied from health insurance because of a pre-existing condition or job change. Those are everyone in this chamber should be proud of. I am pleased to report that cost increases in private insurance claims have dropped to the lowest rate in seven years. An increases in insurance premiums for large companies in Washington state are about half the national average.
We must preserve the gains made under reform. We all need to keep working to achieve universal coverage and cost savings and we must not let special-interest lobbying keep us from that goal.
Natural Resources
We are the seventh fastest growing state in the nation. Every two years that increase equals the population of another Tacoma. As population grows, our sense of community comes under strain, as does our natural environment.
We have threatened watersheds, and polluted and overdrawn sources of ground water.
are choices are clear. We can restore our watersheds ourselves or we can wait and let the Federal Courts or Federal Government decide for us. Waiting would be politically shortsighted decision.
I am seeking your approval of a Water Policy/Salmon plan to fund local watershed and restoration efforts. This measure protects the environment and leaves a lasting legacy for our future generations.
Crime
We must also continue our efforts to address the growing problem of crime in our many communities. Not just as governor, but as a father, a son, and a husband. I share the public̓s concern about crime and their anger at those who victimize innocent people.
I am asking in our Smart on Crime Initiative for tougher sentences for violent criminals. I remain unconvinced that we know how to cure the violence. Until we do, we must secure these people behind prison walls, and we must increase penalties for crimes committed with guns.
But we must also recognize that any realistic solution to our crime problems does not stop at the prison door. Anyone in law enforcement can tell you that criminal behavior is closely linked to joblessness, lack of education, domestic violence, fetal alcohol syndrome, and child abuse. The answer to these problems can be found in strong families and strong communities.
Last year, the Legislature approved the Youth Agenda designed to provide additional support in these areas. This year̓s Smart on Crime Initiative would strengthen Law Enforcement̓s ability to pick up runaways; support parents better, and increase their responsibility for their children. It would provide safe places to help troubled youth stay away from crime and violence, to protect them from abuse, and provide job training to those who need it. We all want to be tough on crime. To do that we also must be Smart on Crime.
Community Values
For two years, our Youth Agenda teams have been asking people: “What are the most important factors in the development of our youth?” The answer consistently has been that every child needs to know that there are adults who love them. Every child needs to know that there are adults who care.
The answer to our youth problems is in strong families, strong communities and adults who care.
I grew up in a wonderful family in Eastern Washington. There were 14 in my High School graduating class. In our town everybody knew what everybody else was doing. Maybe we were snoopy but we had a sense of community. Every once in awhile, I would get into trouble, but there were always adults who would ask, “Have you seen Mike today?” because they cared.
Today we need that same caring.
Today, we must refuse to accept the Excuse that just because most of us now live in larger populations it is okay for us to ignore our responsibilities to our communities. Because it is Not.
Everyone of us must make sure that each child in our community knows we care, — that each child knows we care today, and everyday in the future. That, more than anything else, is what we must put before political expediency.
Today, I am calling for a recommitment by all of us to community. A recommitment that will create family wage jobs; reduce crime; fight bigotry and discrimination; ensure health care; reduce traffic congestion; protect the environment and better the lives of our children.
None of these are partisan matters. They are above partisanship. They are the challenges our citizens expect us to meet. I know we can do that.
I know we can say “no” to partisan divisiveness and “yes” to working together for the common good of the state of Washington; “yes” to a Northwest Ethic of Partnership that will make our great state even greater.
Thank you for the honor of serving as your governor.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Governor and his wife to his Chambers.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the State Elected Officials from the House Chamber.
The President of the Senate instructed the special committee to escort the Justices of the Supreme Court from the House Chamber.
MOTION
On Motion of Representative Foreman the Joint Session was dissolved.
The President of the Senate returned the gavel to the Speaker of the House.
The Speaker instructed the Sergeant at Arms of the House and the Senate to escort the President of the Senate, Joel Pritchard; President Pro Tempore, Lorraine Wojahn; Vice President Pro Tempore, Rosa Franklin, Majority Leader, Marc Gaspard; Minority Leader, Dan McDonald and members of the Washington State Senate from the House Chamber.
There being no objection, the House advanced to the eleventh order of business.
MOTION
On motion of Representative Foreman, the House adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 11, 1995.
CLYDE BALLARD, Speaker
TIMOTHY A. MARTIN, Chief Clerk